It's official: BT is an internet villain

BT is back in the running for the prestigious title of UK internet villain of the year, after withdrawing its sponsorship of the award.

As vnunet.com revealed last week, BT was not shortlisted for the internet villain category in ISPA's internet industry awards, after small print ruled that as a sponsor, it was ineligible for the award.

BT has come under fire from rivals over the delay in unbundling local loops and the lateness of its wholesale unmetered internet service. But under the rules of ISPA's awards, "companies cannot win an award that they sponsored".

Proving they are game for a laugh, BT has pulled out of the sponsorship, putting its chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield into the shortlist for winning the award. It said it withdrew its sponsorship after seeing that the shortlist had got "quite personal".

A spokesman for BT said: "When we entered the awards it was done in the fun and spirit of the thing. But having seen the shortlist, we thought it was inappropriate to continue with the sponsorship as the nominations had become more personal rather than by company."

"We are more than happy to accept the award if we win and are obviously delighted at being in the running. It will be no surprise to anyone if we do win, as people do tend to be cast as a villain if they are at the front end of things."

The shortlist for the internet villain award is now: David Edmonds, director general of telecommunications, Home Secretary Jack Straw, and Sir Peter Bonfield. Ex AltaVista managing director Andy Mitchell, who had been prime candidate following BT's withdrawal, will escape picking up the prize.

The internet villain award will now be sponsored by idesk.com.